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​Mental Skills, Confidence Building, Motivation, Horse Life Tips, Chevy's Adventure Stories and more for Gritty Cowgirls (and Cowboys!).
Photo by Lynn Raguse

Are You and Your Horse Ready for Winter Riding?

11/23/2022

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Wondering when is it too cold to ride? 
Winter has arrived here in WI. My horses are fluffy with their winter hair, there is snow on the ground, and a chill in the air. 

Some riders pack up their riding tack, and turn their horses out for the winter. 

Others get gritty. They have big horse dreams, and they know if they want to achieve them, they need to at a minimum keep their horse legged up over the winter. 

Yet the second most common reason I hear from riders as to why they don't go out and work with their horse over the winter is that they get too cold. And much of the time this is because they do not have the right gear! After all, there is no such thing as bad weather, just improper clothing!

To help you be prepared for riding in cold, snowy weather, I've put together this list of the products I use to stay warm while riding in the winter in Wisconsin. As an Amazon Associate, these are affiliate links and I do earn from qualifying purchases.

For your Feet

A good pair of boots that are warm yet can fit into a stirrup and have a heel are hard to find. My husband bought me a pair of Kenetrek Cowgirl Insulated Pac boots a few years ago, and they quickly have become my favorite winter riding boots!

Also necessary is a boot dryer. Having a dry pair of boots everyday keeps your feet warmer! I really like this PEET boot dryer because it also has the gloves attachment. 

And of course, good socks! I borrowed a pair of Minus 33 wool socks from my husband. They are warm without being bulky. 

for your head

A good hat to keep your head warm is key! 
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I really like my TrailHeads hat. It has a ponytail hole in the back, the traditional baseball hat brim, and fleece fold down ear flaps. On super cold days, I put a beanie on over top of it. 

I bought my husband a Stormy Kromer Trapper hat last year. He wears it all the time in the winter, and says it is really warm.  

It can be hard to keep your ears warm when wearing a helmet, and trying to wear a winter hat under a riding helmet isn't safe as it affects the proper fit. I bought this helmet cover years ago, it stretches over the helmet, with fleece ear flaps that velcro under your chin. 

For Your Hands

Honestly, I still haven't found the perfect winter riding glove that is warm and allows precise finger movement for handling reins. These are what I use. On cold days I keep a packet of hot hands in my pocket to warm up my fingers. 

under layers

I love my Hot Chilis base layers!

For Your Horse

Sometimes our horses get sweaty during winter rides.

Having a cooler on hand to make sure your horse is completely dry before you turn them out so they don't catch a chill is necessary.

On really cold and windy days I'll use a quarter sheet to keep my horse warmer while we ride. 

Coat Defense Powder also works to help absorb moisture and dry your horse quicker if your horse gets sweaty. 
What are some of your favorite cold weather must have items? I'd love to hear from you-please share in the comments!
P.S. For those of you who are curious, the most common reason for not getting out and riding in the winter is a lack of motivation. It is hard to psych yourself up to going out and working with your horse when the weather is crummy! If you want some motivation, inspiration, and accountability to keep riding over the winter, then my get gritty winter horsemanship challenge is for you!


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Come on a Trail Ride with Us!

10/16/2022

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Colton has been working hard in the arena learning to guide and steer Mustang Reva. To test his skills, we hauled out to a local park for a trail ride. Ride along with us in this video!
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5 Tips For Riding with Little Kids

9/2/2018

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Picture
Our kids have been in the saddle since, well, before they were born. It is natural for us horse lovers to want to share our love of horses and riding with our children. I have quickly learned that introducing little kids to horses can be a challenging task to balance keeping them safe and keeping it fun, and not giving Mom an anxiety attack. From the start though, our boys have been attracted to the horses. With our kids, riding started when they were really little by sitting in the saddle with Dad for short little walks around the arena. As the kids are getting a little older it is now fun to saddle up our horses and go for a family ride up the field road. In the past few years I have learned a few things that have made riding with our little cowboys a bit easier and a lot more fun for everyone-including soothing my nerves!

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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